Delete Important Scheduled Task — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2022-09-09 / 2026-03-11.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: a9ebbf10ef925f0549a56d2ba58ef54376a7e4deb72397b214fb6a233ea4a722

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Delete Important Scheduled Task
id: dbc1f800-0fe0-4bc0-9c66-292c2abe3f78
related:
    - id: 9e3cb244-bdb8-4632-8c90-6079c8f4f16d # TaskScheduler EventLog
      type: similar
    - id: 7595ba94-cf3b-4471-aa03-4f6baa9e5fad # Security-Audting Eventlog
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by deleting their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-09-09
modified: 2026-03-11
tags:
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1489
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'schtasks.exe'
    selection_cli_delete:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '/delete'
    selection_cli_task:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Add more important tasks
            - '\Windows\BitLocker'
            - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'
            - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
            - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\'
            - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_schtasks_delete/info.yml

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Unlikely

Source references

• Internal Research (source note; no public URL supplied)